plural quail or quails
1
: a kind of small wild bird that is often hunted
2
: the meat of quail eaten as food
We had quail for dinner.
quails; quailed; quailing
literary
: to feel afraid and often to show your fear in a way that can be clearly seen
Other politicians quailed before him.
He quailed at the thought of seeing her again.
Cite this Entry
“Quail.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/quail. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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